I’ve posted a bit of late about financial issues and retirement. I’ve got a plan, and if I follow it, I should be able to retire within the next 10 years. That sounds terrific, but for the fact I have to be a lawyer for 10 more years–10 more soul-sucking, mind-numbing years.
Over the entirety of this blog’s existence, I don’t think I’ve posted once about my job. Writing here is my respite from the law. My respite from that cold, sterile world. “Why don’t you just quit?” you might ask. Take a look at the photo to the left. Yes, I will admit it–I don’t quit because of the money. The golden handcuffs.
Friday, Valentine’s Day, was a momentous day in my practice. A momentous anticlimactic day. I’ve been working on a case since 2004. Yes, the same case for 10 years. A big case in which I (and the partner with whom I work) sued many companies on behalf of our corporate client. It was a case of Goliath vs. Goliath, Goliath, and Goliath et al. Over the past 10 years, one by one, we picked off each defendant, recovering many millions of dollars for our client. On Friday, we reached a settlement with the last remaining defendant. Apparently, we had saved the biggest for last. The number consisted of 8 figures. Even more than the other 8-figure settlements we’d achieved in the case. Lots and lots of green. But I didn’t feel elated. It was a lot of money. And it rang hollow.
I was glad to begin, on Friday afternoon, clearing my desk and office of the clutter from the case that had gathered over the years.
I asked my boss, “Do you feel sad?”
He looked at me as if I was off my nut.
“I don’t get sad about things like this.”
And then he allowed himself to pause and consider my question.
“Melancholy, maybe. But I’m not sure I know what that word means.”
“mel·an·chol·y”>mel·an·chol·y
1. a gloomy state of mind, especially when habitual or prolonged; depression.
2. sober thoughtfulness; pensiveness
I’m guessing he had definition #2 in mind. After all, we’d spent a decade of our lives working on the case. And now it was done. But did it mean anything? Did our raking in those many millions mean anything for the good of humanity? No. It did not. We had simply moved many millions of dollars from several deep pockets to the deep pocket of our client. Granted, there were many intellectual challenges throughout, but that was the only satisfaction to be found in the entire 10-year exercise. And now we were done.
According to my calculations on the best retirement calculator, I’ve got 10 more years of the same soulless work. Assuming I play it right. If I go back to my non-frugal ways, it will be even longer. So I am very motivated to pour every spare penny into my low-cost Vanguard index funds, and look forward to the day I can smash the fucking handcuffs with a giant rock. I guess technically I won’t be able to smash the handcuffs with a rock because, being handcuffed and all, I won’t have a free hand with which to do the smashing. Instead I’ll be rubbing the chain against a hacksaw.
For the next 10 years.
A slow and arduous process, to be sure.
unConfirmed Bachelorette 
Keep going–you have a vision, work your plan & get out 😉
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I only wish I’d created it sooner. But as they say, better late …
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Hey, no regrets. So, you didn’t begin sooner, that does not mean anything beyond you did not begin sooner. Who is to say you would not have lost a chunk of it someplace thru no doing of your own? Live now, enjoy today, congratulate yourself of having a plan, and most importantly, congratulations on closing the books on the case. That sounded like it may have tried to suck some life out of you.
great post, xo LMA
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You make me glad that I did fail my exams in law back in the 90ies.
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Ha! I would never recommend it as a profession.
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Ok, the downside is, I face another 22 years in public administration …
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those 10 years will fly by, keep to your plan! I’m already into year 8 of retirement! and it’s certainly worth the wait!
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They will fly by, Gert. My next task is to figure out how to enjoy them, rather than just wishing them away. I love that you’re my vibrant retiree role model.
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ahhhh, thanks! and yes, the key now is to ENJOY the count-down
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I did a year of law, and decided I hated it! What can I say to your blog though… other than: “Live every day as if it’s your last, just in case it is!”
Maybe get another cat as well, although that will mean a bigger bed and a map!!!
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PS I used to follow your blog, and have just found out I’m not any more… but have now signed up again! I wondered what had happened to you, but it must have been me!
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I’m glad to see you! I have found it’s easy to inadvertently click (un)follow when reading on my iPhone. Even with my super-zoom reading glasses.
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You are one of the lucky ones. I dare say there will be more cats. They make me happy. There is nothing I like more at the end of the day than cuddling with the kitties. We need each other. Me and the cats.
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A LOT can happen in 10 years. You might still have some wonderful surprises in store, new turns in the road… where those years lead to. It was interesting to read about your work today, thanks for sharing this.
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I am all for turns in the road! Hoping to make a few happen. Thank you for stopping by, Geraldine. Always great to see you and your kitteh!
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